The 30 Least Stressful Jobs

Nobody likes to feel stress. It is an unpleasant experience, and most job seekers would love to find a career that minimize the amount of time spent in high-stress situations.

With this in mind, CareerTrends found the 30 least stressful occupations in the country using data from O*NET, an occupational database sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor. O*NET assigns scores in various categories for each occupation based on the results to survey questions sent out to employers.

For this list, we focused on three different scores, all graded on a 1 to 5 scale: frequency of conflict situations, exposure to hazardous conditions, and stress tolerance.

These three grades were combined to create a "Total Stress Score," which is out of 15, and the occupations with the lowest total stress scores were chosen for this list.

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Survey scores explained:

Frequency of conflict situations: How often are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?

Exposure to hazardous conditions: How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?

#27. Economics Professors

Average annual salary: $106,980Total employment: 13,580Job description: Teach courses in economics. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

#26. Self-Enrichment Education Teachers

Average annual salary: $42,350Total employment: 217,530Job description: Teach or instruct courses other than those that normally lead to an occupational objective or degree. Courses may include self-improvement, nonvocational and nonacademic subjects. Teaching may or may not take place in a traditional educational institution.

#19. Proofreaders

Average annual salary: $37,690Total employment: 10,810Job description: Read transcripts to detect and mark for correction any grammatical, typographical or compositional errors. Includes proofreaders of Braille.

#17. Economists

Average annual salary: $109,230Total employment: 19,090Job description: Conduct research, prepare reports or formulate plans to address economic problems related to the production and distribution of goods and services or monetary and fiscal policy.

#10. Ushers

Average annual salary: $21,060Total employment: 114,000Job description: Assist patrons at entertainment events by performing duties, such as collecting admission tickets and passes from patrons, assisting in finding seats, searching for lost articles and locating such facilities as rest rooms and telephones.

#9. Mathematicians

Average annual salary: $112,560Total employment: 3,170Job description: Conduct research in fundamental mathematics or in application of mathematical techniques to science, management and other fields. Solve problems in various fields using mathematical methods.

#4. Statistical Assistants

Average annual salary: $44,220Total employment: 13,510Job description: Compile and compute data according to statistical formulas for use in statistical studies. May perform actuarial computations and compile charts and graphs for use by actuaries.

#3. Library Technicians

Average annual salary: $34,200Total employment: 94,170Job description: Assist librarians by helping readers in the use of library catalogs, databases and indexes to locate books and other materials. Answer questions that require only brief consultation of standard reference. Sort and shelve books or other media.

#1. Models

Average annual salary: $37,240Total employment: 4,460Job description: Model garments or other apparel and accessories for prospective buyers at fashion shows, private showings or retail establishments. May pose for photos to be used in magazines or advertisements. May pose as subject for paintings, sculptures and other types of artistic expression.